Talarico faces Paxton in critical Texas Senate race at CNN town hall
Democratic state representative James Talarico appears on CNN Wednesday to counter GOP attacks as Democrats seek Senate control.
Part of a larger narrative
Texas Senate Race Audio Controversy
- Talarico faces Paxton in critical Texas Senate race at CNN town hallyou are here
- Talarico sidelined by flu as Paxton faces fresh leaked audio in Texas Senate race
What to know
- Talarico, a Texas Democrat seeking to flip a Republican Senate seat, is using a CNN town hall to counter GOP attacks just before early voting begins in one of the nation's most competitive races.
- Over $500 million has been spent on TV ads in the race, with Republicans attacking Talarico over debunked hoaxes and false claims while Democrats highlight Paxton's corruption allegations.
- Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to win majority control, making the Texas race crucial to their 2026 strategy.
- Talarico has repeatedly addressed fabrications about him, including false claims he is vegan and a recent debunked hoax that he was at a mental health facility.
James Talarico Texas Democratic state representative, U.S. Senate candidate
Ken Paxton Republican Attorney General of Texas, U.S. Senate candidate
Erin Burnett CNN moderator
Vice President JD Vance Trump administration official, Paxton campaign supporter
How it unfolded 0 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump
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Talarico appears in CNN & Jubilee town hall moderated by Burnett — Texas Democratic state representative James Talarico participated in a joint town hall with Jubilee on CNN, moderated by Erin Burnett at 8 p.m. ET. The format gave Talarico a platform to counter Republican attacks and go on offense against his opponent Ken Paxton days before early voting begins.
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Wall Street Journal reports Paxton partied in Dubai with indicted fugitives — The Wall Street Journal broke a story that Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton spent New Year's Eve 2024 in Dubai with a girlfriend and two fugitives who had been indicted in the United States on health care fraud charges. This story became a focal point for Democratic attacks on Paxton's corruption record.
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Vice President Vance campaigns against Talarico in Texas — Vice President JD Vance campaigned in Texas on behalf of Paxton and against Talarico, making harsh personal attacks on the Democratic candidate.
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Conservative influencers spread debunked hoax about Talarico's mental health facility absence — After Talarico left the campaign trail for several days citing illness, conservative influencers and Paxton allies spread false claims that he had been at a mental health facility in Ohio. The mental health center issued an extraordinary statement denying Talarico was ever there, and Talarico's campaign provided time-stamped security camera images proving he was at home during his absence.
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TV ad spending on Texas Senate race surpasses $500 million — According to AdImpact, spending on television advertisements in the Talarico-Paxton race exceeded $500 million in a single week, underscoring the national importance of the contest.
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Talarico counters vegan hoax with turkey leg photo — Talarico responded to false Republican claims that he is vegan by posting a photo of himself eating a turkey leg at the Texas State Fair on social media—one of several fabrications he has faced during his Senate run.
What people are saying 16 voices from 3 sites · verbatim
- Today
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# CNN # News Talarico faces voters, but not Paxton, in CNN town hall
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# CNN # News James Talarico woos moderate, undecided voters at CNN town hall
- Yesterday
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# CNN # News Talarico takes questions solo in CNN-Jubilee town hall amid tight Senate race
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# CNN # News Senate candidate James Talarico appears in CNN Town Hall as Paxton launches 30-day tour
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# CNN # News Talarico tackles abortion, faith and ‘conspiracy theories’: Takeaways from the CNN & Jubilee town hall
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# CNN # News Talarico challenges both parties at CNN town hall in Senate rac
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Talarico tackles abortion, faith and ‘conspiracy theories’: Takeaways from the CNN & Jubilee town hall https://www. cnn.com/2026/10/14/politics/ja mes-talarico-cnn-jubilee-town-hall-takeaways?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into Politics @ politics-CNN
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This James Talarico Town Hall on @cnn.com is the best I've ever seen #Texas #Talarico
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Kaitlan Collins breaks down the biggest moments from the CNN & Jubilee Town Hall with James Talarico. Watch The Source now on CNN or stream live with an All Access subscription.
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HAPPENING NOW: The CNN & Jubilee Town Hall with James Talarico is live on CNN and streaming with an All Access subscription.
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Texas GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton refuses to debate James Talarico—so tonight, James will answer questions directly from voters live on CNN. Tune in tonight at 8 pm ET / 7 pm CT!
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# CNN # News What to watch in the CNN & Jubilee town hall with James Talarico
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What to watch in the CNN & Jubilee town hall with James Talarico https://www. cnn.com/2026/10/14/politics/ja mes-talarico-cnn-jubilee-town-hall-texas-senate?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into Politics @ politics-CNN
- Oct 13
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Watch the CNN & Jubilee Town Hall with James Talarico Wednesday, October 14 at 8p ET on CNN and stream live with an All Access subscription.
- Oct 12
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# CNN # News CNN and Jubilee host candidate James Talarico town hall Wednesday
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CNN and Jubilee host candidate James Talarico town hall Wednesday https://www. cnn.com/2026/10/12/politics/vi deo/cnn-jubilee-talarico-town-hall-promo?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into Politics @ politics-CNN